Two weeks after the significant layoff of at least 86 developers, Toys for Bob, the studio behind Crash Bandicoot 4, has made a groundbreaking announcement: it is breaking away from its parent company, Activision, and embarking on an independent journey.
In a recent blog post, studio heads Paul Yan and Avery Lodato did not delve into specific reasons for this decision but emphasized the opportunity it presents to return to their origins as a small and agile studio. This move is noteworthy, especially against the backdrop of widespread layoffs across the video game industry.
Despite its separation from Activision and Microsoft, the studio expressed interest in forging a potential partnership with Microsoft for its new venture.
The nature of this collaboration, whether it involves exclusivity agreements, remains uncertain. Yan and Lodato hinted at their ongoing development of a new game but emphasized that it’s still in the early stages, refraining from making any concrete announcements.
They expressed eagerness to craft fresh narratives, introduce new characters, and deliver innovative gameplay experiences.
Toys for Bob acknowledged the support from their former partners at Activision and Microsoft, expressing confidence in continued collaboration in the future.
While not an exhaustive analysis, it’s essential to highlight the wave of industry layoffs this year alone. Microsoft slashed nearly 2,000 developer positions across Xbox, Activision Blizzard, and Zenimax. Riot Games laid off over 500 employees and shut down its indie publishing arm.
Sony’s layoffs affected 900 individuals, impacting major studios like Naughty Dog and Insomniac, with the closure of PlayStation London. Unity also underwent significant restructuring, with 1,800 job cuts and a 25% reduction in its workforce.
